Big Island has the world’s biggest telescope and has more scientific observatories in one place than anywhere else in the world.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the only live volcano flowing in the U.S.

Population of Big Island is estimated at 189,191
(According to 2012 US Census Bureau).

Transportation – Rental cars available at both Kona and Hilo airports and some hotels. The public bus is Hele-On and travels around the entire island for FREE.

Big Island is the most ecologically diverse of all the islands, with natural environments ranging from the desert plains of Ka‘u to the rain forests above Hilo, to snowcapped Mauna Kea. There are said to be 13 climatic regions on earth and the Big Island has all but two, the Arctic and the Sahara.

Parker Ranch is one of the largest privately held ranches in the United States.

Big Island is the Golf Capital of Hawaii with 20 golf courses and several more scheduled for completion.

Ka Lae (South Point) is the southernmost point in the United States.

Kona is home to the Ironman World Championship every October.

Big Island is the only place in the United States where vanilla beans and cocoa beans are grown.